Rating: LOVED, like top 10 of 2011 l-o-v-e-d!Did I finish?: Yes, another record read in 3ish hours.One-sentence summary: One rambling house in Provence connects two women as both struggle with the secrets that permeate their lives. Reading Challenges:British Books, Historical Fiction

Do I like the cover?: Yes -- it's so pretty and reminiscent of the architectural feel of the novel's setting.

I'm reminded of...: Daphne du Maurier, Kate Morton, Amanda Prantera

First line: Some scents sparkle and then quickly disappear, like the effervescence of citrus zest or a bright note of mint.

Do... I wish I could live at Les Genévriers?: YES. Though falling apart, the hamlet seems to have this Anthropologie, French shabby chic thing going that I eat up with a spoon. I want!

Did... I love every character in this book?: YES. Even the unlikeable ones felt real, bursting from the pages, and I loved to love -- or loved to hate -- all of them.

Am... I searching for lavender scents now?: YES. One of the characters works harvesting lavender and the myriad of descriptions of the fragrance have me in the mood to wallow in the smell.

Why did I get this book?: Rebecca is one of my all-time favorite reads and when I saw this book being compared to Rebecca, I was intrigued. Plus, it's set in France and I can't say no to an armchair escape.

Review: Here's my advice: buy this book and then put aside a whole morning or afternoon to dive in because I promise you're not going to want to stop. Interruptions will be painful. (Have someone bring tea or wine, though, because the story begs for that.)

At first, I thought this was going to be a literal retelling of Rebecca. The heroine, a younger woman, has a whirlwind romance with a moody older man -- Dom -- who is tight-lipped about his charismatic first wife, Rachel. Like du Maurier's book, the heroine in The Lantern is unnamed (although Lawrenson kindly has Dom give her a nickname for us to use, 'Eve'). The Lantern even has the iconic 'Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again' scene, when Eve dreams of Les Genévriers, the rambling hamlet she and Dom reside. Very quickly, though, it came clear that this novel is an homage to du Maurier's classic but still its own creature.

Alternating Eve's story is Bénédicte's, a woman who grew up at Les Genévriers during World War II and worked in the lavender fields and faced her own dark mystery. At first, I was impatient with the switching stories -- I just wanted to know what was going on with Dom -- but within two or three chapters, Bénédicte's story grabbed me as well. Her twisted, dangerous brother Pierre and her talented sister Marthe were as much a part of Les Genévriers and the story as the swimming pool and gorgeous countryside.

Eve had the right mix of naivete and obliviousness to make the story work realistically, without making me want to shake her for being a mouse (something I occasionally wanted to do to du Maurier's heroine). I greatly appreciated that Lawrenson didn't just wave away technology -- Eve does internet research, like an reasonably curious person would do -- and she gives Eve modern attitudes and behaviors. Eve confronts Dom in a way that du Maurier's heroine never could.

Lawrenson's writing style is lovely: evocative enough to give a strong sense of place but without too much ornamentation. The story races with impending danger even in the pensive places (although perhaps that was just me, unwilling to slow down!) and has the same sort of romantic gloominess of du Maurier's novel. Wisely, Lawrenson's novel is more than just what-happened-to-Dom's-wife -- du Maurier's novel set the bar so high I'm not sure any other book could do it well without seeming contrived -- and her mixing of historical mystery with a modern day Bluebeard is delightful.

Bottom line: get this book now (and thank me later!).

*** *** ***

GIVEAWAY!

I'm thrilled to offer a copy of The Lantern to one reader. To enter, simply comment on this entry with an email address. Open to US/CA readers, ends 9/2. For another entry, be sure to come back for my interview with Deborah Lawrenson.

This is one of my next reads, and I admit, now you've got me chomping at the bit to read it. I need a book that I can get completely engrossed in, and it seems like this one will be that book. Fantabulous review on this one. Your excitement and enthusiasm really spills over!

I want to read this book so badly, I barely skim reviews - don't want to know too much! But I couldn't miss your enthusiasm, and that just underscores how much I want to read it! Thanks so much for the chance to win a copy.

I've already heard such great things about this book and now I feel super excited to read this sometime soon!! I never did get around to reading Rebecca but that's one I need to get to as well! Please enter me: jennala(at)cfl.rr.com

wonderful review! but not quite sure just 'how much' you like it??? "))you already have me heading for my lavender sachets for delicious refreshment tonite as i sleep...thank you!and for the generous giveaway ")

Aw man! I actually requested this one through NetGalley and was approved, but I was a lazy butt and the download expired before I got around to it. I am going to enter your giveaway because your review has really made me kick myself for procrastinating and missing out on what sounds like a great read as a result!

I'm so glad you liked this one too! I thought it was such a fun read, and I agree: it would have been ideal for an afternoon and a few glasses of wine. I'm even more eager to read Rebecca now too; I still can't believe I've never read it!

OOOOoooo..I may just buy this asap! Your review has me very excited about this book. I read somewhere that it had gothic elements similar to Daphne du Maurier's work so I'm excited to see that she is one of the authors of which you are reminded. I love your description of Lawrenson's writing style, too! Thank you, Audra!

I've wanted this one since I started reading the reviews on it. LOVED Rebecca and the feel of it .. and I love Kate Morton as well. I already have it on my to-buy list, but your review makes me want to buy it faster! Thanks for the chance to win!

Ok, Audra, so last time on David Liss's book, I said give it to someone else more deserving... but this time, PLEASE think about giving this one to me!! I've been dying for this book. Your post/review makes it even more a positive for me. The cover is gorgeous and I've read the synopsis several times. It's a must-have for me. Save me from scrounging!! Hugs, Deborah/TheBookishDame

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